1 SOME SOPHISTICATED SLANDER LUKE 11:28-54 The attack on Jesus - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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SOME SOPHISTICATED SLANDER

LUKE 11:28-54

The attack on Jesus begins, that unfortunately, continues to this day! 1. First, we see public slander—the hardness of the people of

• Israel. Luke 11:29-36
• The court of public opinion was in session!
• The majority was wrong that day—and is often wrong today—

so Jesus gives them three pictures; they wanted proof and proof they would receive.

• That proof came directly from the Word; not a new sign, but

rather the WORD they had already received!

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THREE PROOFS FROM THE WORD

• First: There was the case of ONE VERY CONVICTED PROPHET—
• Jonah. You want a sign, you got it! Jonah Chapter 2
• Second: There was the sign of ONE CONSCIENTIOUS RULER—

“the queen of the South,” also known as the Queen of Sheba.

• WORD: This Gentile woman has more wisdom than you really

religious guys.

• Third: There was the sign of the CONVERTED SINNERS—the

grace of God reached the wretched, sinful people of Nineveh.

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THEY GOT A SERMON INSTEAD OF A SIGN

Having categorically refused to give the Jews a sign, Jesus gave them a sermon instead. Luke 11:33-36 Jesus began with an illustration: The simple lamp.

• They were willingly walking in darkness.
• Religion itself had blinded them to the truth.
• Religious tradition had bound them to fruitless works.

What they needed was not a miraculous sign; they simply needed to walk in the Light as He was in the light. 1 John 1:7

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THE SLANDER OF RELIGION

2. Slander in private—the hypocrisy of religious Israel. Luke 11:37-52 a. An unspoken criticism of His manners. v. 37-38

• The Lord deliberately refused to wash His hands as a way of

“washing His hands” of a religion that spent itself interminably on trivialities and external rites. b. An outspoken criticism of their motivations. v. 39-52

• The woes upon the formal traditionalists. v. 39-44
• Tithing, they thought, would make up for their other

failures.

• The woes upon the false teachers. Luke 11:45-52

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THEY WERE LIVING TOMBS v. 47-52

Gilded tombs, indeed! Just another nail in their own coffins.

• They were actually “murderers of the prophets” in the name of

religious tradition. God detests religious traditions that snuff out the light and promote works-based righteousness

• …rather than God’s saving grace through faith in Christ Jesus our

Lord. THE FINAL APPROACH

• Total warfare on their part. Luke 11:53-54

The trap was being set, but all they would catch would be foot-in-mouth, really sophisticated slander.

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